FG’s delegation opens talks with UK on possible Tltransfer of Ekweremadu to Nigeria

The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced discussions with authorities in the United Kingdom on the possible transfer of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in Nigeria.

Ekweremadu is currently serving a nine-year and eight-month jail term in the UK, following his conviction on organ harvesting charges. His wife, Beatrice, was sentenced to four years and six months, while their associate, Dr. Obinna Obeta, received a ten-year sentence.

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The high-level delegation representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); and the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche.

The team has already met with the UK Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper and officials from the UK’s Ministry of Justice.

The media aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkasim Abdulkadir, confirmed the meeting on Tuesday.

Abdulkadir said that the presidential delegation was in London to engage with UK authorities to consider the possibility of Ekweremadu serving the remainder of his prison sentence in Nigeria.

He said: “The Presidential Delegation met with UK Authorities to explore possibilities of Sen Ike Ekeweremandu serving the remainder of his sentence in Nigeria, consultations are ongoing.”

The London Metropolitan Police detained the Ekweremadus in June 2022 after a man was alleged to have been deceived to a private renal unit at Royal Free Hospital in London as a relative of their daughter Sonia, in what turned out to be a failed attempt to convince medical professionals to perform an £80,000 transplant.

The 21-year-old man, who had allegedly been promised employment in the UK, reported the incident to the police in May of that year, saying that he had been brought to the country for an organ transplant.

In March 2023, the former presiding officer of the Senate was convicted of organ trafficking by a UK court.

Beatrice, his wife, and Obinna Obeta, a doctor connected to the case, were also found guilty.

(Nation)